Bird Flu-Tainted Milk Recall: What To Know In CA

CALIFORNIA—Following multiple recent detections of the bird flu virus in a Central California company's milk and dairy products, public health authorities called for an expanded voluntary recall of its products.

Wednesday's expanded recall ensured that all sizes of milk and cream produced by Fresno-based Raw Farms LLC between Nov. 9 and Nov. 27 would be pulled from retail shelves. The affected lot numbers are 20241109 through 20241127, which includes the two lots recalled last week (Nov. 27 and Nov. 24).

"Customers should immediately return any remaining product to the retail point of purchase," the California Department of Public Health said.

In addition to the statewide voluntary recall, the California Department of Food and Agriculture placed the farm under quarantine, effectively suspending any new distribution of its raw milk, cream, kefir, butter or cheese products produced on or after Nov. 27.

Drinking or accidentally inhaling raw milk containing bird flu virus may lead to illness, state officials said. Touching one's eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands after touching raw milk with bird flu virus can also lead to infection.

Public health officials first identified the bird flu virus in Raw Farm, LLC retail products Thanksgiving week. Additional tests by the California Department of Food and Agriculture of bulk milk storage and bottled products at Raw Farm’s bottling facility showed the presence of the bird flu virus. All milk tested by CDFA remained at the Raw Farm plant and was not released to consumers. As the disease investigation continues, Raw Farm was fully cooperating with CDPH and CDFA, state officials said.

"While this voluntary recall only applies to raw whole milk and cream, due to multiple bird flu detections in the company's operation, the California Department of Public Health urges consumers to avoid consuming any Raw Farm products for human consumption, including raw milk, cream, cheese, and kefir, as well as raw milk pet food topper and pet food kefir marketed to pet owners," the California Department of Public Health said.

As of Wednesday, no human bird flu cases associated with the product have been confirmed. State officials continued to work closely with federal and local partners to investigate the situation and better understand how it might impact consumers.

"California continues to monitor and respond to bird flu outbreaks in dairy cows and poultry," the department said. "Bird flu virus levels have been demonstrated to be high in raw milk from infected cows, and sporadic human cases identified in workers in close contact with infected dairy cows and their milk indicate that raw milk is infectious to humans."

Symptoms of bird flu infection in humans include eye redness or discharge, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, trouble breathing and fever.

"Anyone who has consumed these specific products and is experiencing these symptoms should immediately contact their health care provider or local health department," state authorities said.

Pasteurized milk products are safe to consume because the heating process of pasteurization kills pathogens such as bird flu that can cause illness.